Despite ongoing need and the looming expiration of the federal eviction moratorium on July 31, Kansas City, Missouri, is no longer accepting new applications for its emergency rental assistance program. The $14.8 million in federal assistance the city allocated to the program will be exhausted by applications that have already been submitted since the program opened in March, according to the city’s online application portal.
But for tenants who did not yet submit an application through Kansas City’s Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program, there are still opportunities to get help.
Nonprofits partnering with the city on the rental assistance program are still working through the applications. According to the Community Assistance Council, a nonprofit partnering with the city on emergency assistance, the city received a total of 7,411 applications.
Kansas City was approved for a second round of funding for emergency rental assistance. The application portal will reopen Sept. 1.
Where you can still apply for rent assistance in the KC metro
Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief
- Apply online here using Google Chrome or Firefox
- If you need help, contact one of the housing service providers in your county. Check this list to see which agency is available in your county.
- Check your eligibility here
- Read application requirements here
Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance
- Apply online here
- If you need help applying, a community partner in your county can help. To find the organization working in your area, check here.
- Check your income eligibility here
You can also contact the hotline for the United Way of Greater Kansas City for help with rent, utilities and food by calling 211. You can also use United Way’s resource directory to find help.
Tenants in Kansas City who cannot apply online to Missouri’s State Assistance for Housing Relief program can call Tiffany Drummer at 816-513-3026 for assistance.
Tenants who need help paying off debt and had an eviction entered against them for nonpayment of rent since April 2020 can apply for funding to pay off the judgment through the Eviction Rehabilitation Program created by the United Way of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City Regional Housing Alliance. Contact 211 for assistance.
Applying for rental assistance through Missouri’s state program
Tenants seeking assistance can apply through Missouri’s State Assistance for Housing Relief program.
The program received $323.7 million in funding through the U.S. Treasury Department, and money is being administered by Missouri’s Housing Development Commission. Eligible tenants can receive up to 12 months of assistance, similar to Kansas City’s program.
So far, 445 applications have been approved for assistance in Jackson County, totaling $2.16 million.
Through State Assistance for Housing Relief, Missouri allocated funding to five nonprofits in Jackson County to process applications and provide legal help.
ReStart is one of the nonprofits that received funding under the state program. Stephanie Boyer, CEO of reStart, said the organization does not administer funds under the state rental assistance program — the funding covers processing and helping people with applications.
“What’s challenging is we can’t give people an update,” Boyer said about applications through the Missouri program. “Because we don’t know the status. So that’s not helpful.”
Reconciliation Services also received funding from Missouri for State Assistance for Housing Relief.
“We have estimated that we could help an additional 200 people with that MHDC funding,” said Jodi Mathews, director of marketing and development. “Some of these emergency funding streams are very heavily focused on rent and utilities. But we also have families who are at threat of foreclosure.”
